Shaving implement



May-12, 1942.. i BRUECKE 2,282,639

SHAVING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1939 MM w mm Maw 'azsasss I snavme JohnBruce/her, Chicago, an. Application November 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,313a Ciaims. (oi. tit-43) This invention relates to shaving implements ofthe type known as dry shavers. It has more particular reference to thecutting action between the skin-engaging member or comb and the cutterblade which is rapidly moved across the inner side of the comb.- It hasfurther reference to that type of dry shaver employing an' extremelythin, curved comb and a cutter blade which oscillates at a high speedand is responsive to centrifugal force for urging it against thedirectly along the underside of the comb. Ac-

cording to my invention the cutter is so shaped as to avoid'or reduceinitial bending of hair. This bending or distortion of the hairprojecting through the comb would otherwise occur by reason of the bodyof the cutter striking and bending the individual hairs before thecutting edge en-= gages them in the cutting action. My improvedconstruction tends to. avoid or reduce rhombic shape of the cut 011pieces of hair and to produce sharp cutting and smoother shavingresults.

Another object is to provide in a shaver of the character described acutter having opposed cutting edges so shaped and positioned that acutting action takes place in each direction of movement and theconstruction avoids entrapment of hair during the reverse strokeactions.

Referring to the drawing: Fig. l is a cross section through the cuttinghead of a dry shaver of the kind shown in my application for patent,Serial No. 178,221;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the cutting head takensubstantially on the section line 2-2 of Fig. l, with some of the partsin elevation and omitting the drive element;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the comb and cutter;and

Fig, 4 is a similar section showing a modified form of cutter.

My improvements relate to the shape of the movable cutter member and itscoaction with the stationary cutting member.

ing an extremely thin curved, S n-engaging member which is perforated orotherwise'formed to receive hairs to becut and is commonly known in thisart as the comb," and a cutter blade which is moved at a high speedacross the inner 2 side of the comb" and is so mounted as to be urgedoutwardly into cutting or shearing en'- gagement withthe inner. surfaceof the comb by centrifugal force.

In the example here shown for purpose of illustration,the combdesignated generally by t is of extremely thin metal flexed 'or formedto acurved shape. In this instance the comb is flexed and is retained insuch form by means of a skeleton frame designated generally by I havingsemi-circular members 8, 8, i0, ll, 12 g and i3 joined by longitudinalmembers it and it. The comb is provided with suitable per-' forations itto allow for passage ofthe beard hair .or other hair to the inner sideand to provide cutting edges H at said inner side which j function inthe cutting of such hairs. The perforations may be. of any suitable orpreferred A comb of this type associated witha. skeleton frame so as toconstitute aunitis claimed shape.

as subject matter of invention in my copending application abovementioned. my said applicationthe comb unit is supported on end walls isand It of a head structure designated generally by 20, and suitablemeans such as retaining elements 2| engage the comb unit and hold itseated on the head structure.

In' this example the cutter designated generally by 22 is carried by aholder 23 which in turn is provided with trunnion ends 24 journalled inthe. end walls of the head structure. Suitable means are provided forrapidly oscillating the cutter holder consisting in'this instance ofaneccentric pin 25v carried on a driving member 26 which rotates aboutan axis perpendicular to the axis about which the cutter holderoscillates and is driven by an electric motor or other suit-.

able source of power, the eccentric pin 25 being engaged between opposedparallel members 21 fixedly carried by the cutter holder at the side Iof its axis opposite from the cutter proper. In

this instance, the cutter 22 is in the form of a flat blade having'asliding fit in a slot 28 in a These improve- 'ments are applied in ashaver ofthe type hav 5 plane radial with respect to and intersectingthe axis of the cutter holder. Also, a guide pin 29 on the blade isconfined between opposed locating and guiding surfaces 80 so that thebladeis retained against lengthwise displacement with respect to theinner surface of the comb. This is desirable in the particularstructure'here disyclosed in order to maintain the cutting edges 0! As disclosedin.

the cutter blade in proper cooperative relation with the cutting edgeson the comb, insofar as location lengthwise or. the comb is concerned.

a The blade is cut away at 3! to provide clearance cutter holder and-thecutter to urge the latter outwardly so that in this particular instancethe cutter is influenced in this movement by both the spring force andthe centrifugal force. According to my invention, however, either orboth of these forces may be utilized. 4 My invention contemplatesimproved cuttin action between theskin-engamember t and I the cutterblade 22 characterized by the provision of acute angle cutting edges atopposite aasae'ac" avoids entrapmentof hair during the reverse strokeactions.

sides of the blade from end to end sov that the undercut wall intersectsthe outermost wall at w an acute angle. In the form shown in Fig. 3

the sides of the blade are hollow groundat 83 so. as to provide walls34. in acute angle relation to the end wall'35 and'forming a sharpbladelike cutting edge 36 at the juncture of each wall 34 with the endwall 35., In the form shown in 4, the cutter blada is swaged, milled, or

' otherwise machined or formed at 31 to provide edge ll at the time themoving cutter first engages the hair. With my improvement the stressconcentration at the cutting edge is materially In the dorm shown inFig. 3, which is masnified approximately thirty diameters, the combmember is .002" in thickness; the openings l5 are .018" in diameter; thehole centers are spaced .045" apart; and the main body of the cutter is.022" in thickness and is reduced at the narrow portion by grinding toapproximately .008". These dimensions are approximate as applied to thisparticular example. *It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not to be circumscribed by limitation to such dimensions.It will be evident from the foregoing that changes may be made in thesize, shape and proportion of the within the scope of the appendingclaims, in which- I claim:

1.. In a shaving implement, an extremely thin. curved, skineengagingmember having hair receiving openings oi such area as to permit readypassage oi hair therethrough but'to confine the skin from passing beyondits inner surface, a cutter blade substantially normal to the innersurface of said member undercut at opposite sides to provide sharp acuteangle cutting edges, and means for rapidly oscillating the blade acrossthe inner side of said member with the blade urged against said innerside, whereby a relatively high unit shearing force is obtained in thecutting action of each cutting edge on an interposed hair and the movingcutter severe the hair close to the skin without tending to initiallyband that portion otthe hair which projects within the comb member, theopposed cutting edges being in such close proximity, one with respect tothe other, as to avoid entrapment of hair between the terminalehd of thecutter blade and the skin-engaging member during the reverse strokeactions of the blade.

2. Shaving mechanism comprising a guard of thin sheet material adaptedto have one of its increased and this high unit shearing force, to-

gether with the tendency to avoid bending of the inwardly projectinghair makes for closer and smoother shaving. It reduces the tendency tobend the inwardly projecting hair prior to or during the cutting action,thus reducing and,

to a degree, eliminating rhombic shape of the r cut of! pieces of hair.By severing the hair in sur faces pressed against the skin to be shaved,said guard being arcuately curved in atleast one dimension and beingformed with numerous small circular perforations for admitting hairs,and a cuttermember for "engaging the opposite surface of said guard,means for supporting and angularly moving said cutter member over saidlatter surface, said cutter member comprising a.

sheet metal strip having an edge of substantial thickness bearingagainst said latter surface and said strip extending in a planesubstantially normal to the various portions of said latter surface assame come into contact therewith, the sides of said strip being bothformed with a groove of substantially arcuate cross section along saidedge, one side of each of said grooves terminating at said edge andforming a relatively sharp acute angle with the surface comprising saidedge.

- JOHN 'BRUECKER.

